Ukrainian runner Igor Tsvetov posted on his Facebook page a statement on his refusal to be photographed with the Russians on the podium after the 100-meter race at the Paralympic Games in Tokyo.
“Someone sees this as disrespect for rivals, while others - respect for Ukraine.
To each his own ... With Ukraine in his heart, "the athlete wrote.
He also promised the fans to do everything possible to "bring the country to the podium again" after the start at 200 meters.
A loud scandal involving Tsvetov erupted the day before.
The athlete performing in the T35 class (athletes with cerebral palsy or other coordination disorders) took second place in the 100-meter race, behind Dmitry Safronov from Russia.
Bronze was won by the winner's compatriot Artyom Kalashyan.
During the awards ceremony, both Russian Paralympians climbed to the highest step of the podium and invited the Ukrainian to join them to take a traditional joint photo.
However, he refused.
As a result, in all frames Safronov and Kalashyan are standing together, and Tsvetov is at a distance from them.
The behavior of the silver medalist raised questions from Russian fans.
However, the International Paralympic Committee and the Russian Paralympic Committee tried to smooth the situation and explained the runner's refusal with strict coronavirus restrictions.
So, the IPC said that Tsvetov did not approach the Russians, since they did not wear protective masks.
"The COVID-19 protocols at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games stipulate that athletes must gather together at the top of the podium during the awards ceremony only if they wear face masks," the IPC recalled.
And the RPC no longer referred to the lack of masks, but to the need to maintain social distance.
“At the Paralympic Games, there are some restrictions related to the prevention of the spread of coronavirus infection, including the observance of social distance.
Perhaps this prompted Tsvetov to abandon the traditional joint photographing, ”TASS quotes a message from the press service of the PKR.
Despite attempts to explain Tsvetov's behavior, in Russia the actions of the Ukrainian athlete were criticized. So, the Olympic champion in speed skating and State Duma deputy Svetlana Zhurova explained the runner's refusal to be photographed with the Russians "by following the instructions."
“The athletes were simply pumped up with anti-Russian ideology. For them, even an athlete who stands next to him on a pedestal is an enemy. This is very bad ... I think the IGC should immediately respond to what happened and warn the Ukrainian delegation that if this situation repeats, the consequences will be serious. The athlete received a medal, was awarded, but left only when the anthem was being played. This is an absolute disrespect not only for Russia, but also for the organization of competitions, for the Paralympics - the athlete violated the culture of rewarding. Usually, the IOC harshly suppressed such situations and brought the matter to disqualification. And here a warning must be issued and measures must be taken, ”Sport24 quotes Zhurova.
In turn, her colleague and former world boxing champion Nikolai Valuev emphasized that this situation does not paint in the first place the athlete himself, while she hardly hurt the Russian runners.
“Of course, this is ugly - everyone already understands, but the incident is over.
As for such hysteria around sports and sanctions against Ukrainian athletes because of photographs with Russians, this is beyond the scope.
If, because of the photos at the Olympics, sanctions will be punished, then excuse me ... This is not a war, but a sport, ”the deputy reminded.
In turn, the six-time Paralympic champion Sergei Shilov urged to treat Tsvetov with understanding.
In his opinion, he simply carried out the "instruction from above", not experiencing the slightest negative to his opponents.
“I am sure he congratulated the guys, but he didn’t dare to do it on camera, since Ukraine’s policy today is certainly not aimed at bringing our countries closer together.
You remember very well the story of Yaroslava Maguchikh and Maria Lasitskene and how the authorities in Ukraine behaved then.
It's hard for me to say whether the Ukrainian Paralympians are intimidated or not, but they were given a warning.
You need to understand that they are at the expense of the budget of Ukraine and cannot fail to fulfill the orders of their leadership, "Shilov explained in a conversation with RT.
At the same time, the famous skier noted that at one time such a thing could not even be imagined.
“We have not had any conflicts with the Ukrainians.
We all talked calmly and were friends.
And even now, when we meet, we greet and talk, although we do not rush into the arms of the cameras.
I'm sure our guys communicate well with their neighbors.
They are rivals only at the stadium, but in life everyone is united by normal human communication.
They themselves try not to get involved in politics, ”Shilov added.
The well-known journalist Dmitry Guberniev took a close point of view and called the Ukrainian athletes "hostages of idiots who make decisions in the leadership of sports in Ukraine."
“I'm sorry for this guy, that's all.
Athletes communicate normally with each other, and I always communicate normally with them.
I support Ukrainian sports, and they put me on the list of enemies of the state.
Therefore, if people are idiots, you can only laugh in response.
I feel sorry for the athletes ", - quotes Guberniev" Sport-Express ".
It is possible that the Ukrainian Paralympians are really afraid to be photographed with the Russians after the scandal that erupted during the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
Then the athlete Yaroslava Maguchikh underwent a real persecution at home for a joint shot with champion Maria Lasitskene at the end of the high jump competition.
The Russian woman was holding the ROC flag, and the rival - Ukraine.
Moreover, the Maguchikhs were criticized not only in social networks.
Even the Ministry of Defense spoke about the incident.
There they promised to "hold a conversation" with the girl upon returning from Tokyo.
“The careless behavior of our athletes, whom we love and whom we sincerely root for, can become the object of informational special operations of the enemy,” explained Anna Malyar, deputy head of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.
However, not everyone supported the persecution.
So, the bronze medalist of the Games karate Stanislav Goruna in a harsh manner urged not to mix sports with politics and not to make a scandal out of the blue.
“The pedestal is a unique and exclusive place of respect that brings successful athletes together in the moment through their self-improvement and performance.
No more, no less.
There is no “betrayal” in the photo of the Maguchikhs from Lasitskene, ”the karateka wrote.
Unfortunately, the Paralympics were not without similar excesses.
So, during the opening ceremony, Guberniev told how the head of the Paralympic Committee of Ukraine tried to take the delegation away from the stadium so that it would not be near the Russians.
However, the acting head of the RPC, Pavel Rozhkov, denied this information.
“The Ukrainian delegation is sitting next to us.
We with the head of the Paralympic Committee of Ukraine Valery Sushkevich greeted kindly.
And at the opening parade, they walked along parallel paths.
Almost the entire Ukrainian delegation is nearby.
Storytellers come up with something out of the blue, ”the functionary assured.